Page 69 of One Bad Idea
A thank you?
Or a kick in the pants?
Under any other circumstance, I might've told him that I didn't need anyone to stick up for me, that I could've handled Bryce on my own, and that Jaden should've minded his own business.
That very last point was the sticky one. ThiswasJaden's business, literally.
Reluctantly, I asked, "Am I in trouble?"
"No. But you're gonna be."
I stiffened. "Why?"
He glanced down at his watch. "Because I've got plans at six."
I glanced at my own watch. It was 5:50. Still, I couldn’t seem to let the subject go. "I just meant, am I in trouble for the Bryce thing? For the fact that he came here, I mean." Before Jaden could reply, I quickly added, "And just so you know, I didn't invite him here."
"You think I don’t know that?"
"Actually, I don't knowwhatyou know."
"I know he had his hand on you." Jaden's gaze darkened. "And I know you didn't like it."
He was right. I hadn't. Iespeciallyhadn't liked that Bryce had refused to let go when I'd tried to pull away. Still, there was something I needed to know. "You didn't hurt him or anything, did you?"
Jaden gave me a hard look. "What if I did?"
I swallowed. "So you did?"
"That's not what I said."
"But you implied it."
"Yeah? Andyoudidn't answer my question. So I'll repeat it." Speaking very clearly, he said, "What if I did?"
By now, I was practically chewing on my bottom lip. "Well…" I stammered, trying to collect my thoughts. "…I guess on some level, I wish he would've just left on his own."
"Yeah, but he didn't. So then what?"
"I, well..."
"Wish I'd minded my own business?"
"I don’t know," I admitted.
"Yes, you do."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, you didn'twantme to let it go."
The objection came automatically. "I did, too."
"Oh yeah? Then why didn't you stop me?"
"From what?"
"From showing him the door."
